JCPS made the call on Thursday afternoon, but Superintendent Marty Pollio said he has been monitoring absences all week.

"We'd like to give (parents) as much time as possible, but we felt that doing it in the afternoon gave enough notice for parents to try to make some plans," Pollio said.

Earlier Thursday, teachers at Southern High School joined other JCPS schools for a walk-in to protest Gov. Matt Bevin's veto of the budget bill, pressuring lawmakers to override it and restore funding to many public education programs.

"We see the big picture and the detriment that these cuts will have on our students," said Jennifer Vowels, a JCPS teacher. "We don't want that for them. We want what's best for our students."

Pollio will also ask the board to forgive the absence for students, which would keep JCPS on its current graduation schedule.

"We are requesting that the board change our school calendar to keep May 31 as our last school day," he said.

Pollio added that he supports the teachers headed to Frankfort on Friday.

"As a school district, we must have teachers that are respected, compensated and very qualified and trained," said Pollio, a former teacher. "I support our teachers, because I'm one, and I really encourage our legislators to do the same."